Processed red meats linked to increased dementia risk: Study

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS JUST KEEPS STACKING UP.

THIS WEEK – RESEARCHERS PRESENTED PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A STUDY THAT SHOWS REGULARLY EATING PROCESSED RED MEAT IS LINKED TO A HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA LATER IN LIFE.

PROCESSED RED MEATS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE HOT DOGS, BACON, SAUSAGE, SALAMI AND BOLOGNA. 

RESEARCHERS TRACKED MORE THAN 130-THOUSAND U-S ADULTS FOR UP TO 43 YEARS.

THEY SAY DURING THAT TIME – MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND OF THOSE PEOPLE DEVELOPED DEMENTIA.

THE STUDY’S AUTHORS SAY THOSE WHO ATE TWO SERVINGS OF PROCESSED RED MEAT A WEEK… HAD A 14 PERCENT HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA THAN THOSE WHO ATE FEWER SERVINGS.

FURTHERMORE – THE STUDY FOUND EATING *UN*-PROCESSED RED MEAT DID *NOT* SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA. 

UNPROCESSED RED MEATS ARE THINGS LIKE STEAK OR PORK CHOPS. 

MOST PROCESSED MEATS ARE CLASSIFIED AS “ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS” – WHICH MEANS THEY’RE MADE WITH INGREDIENTS THAT DON’T OCCUR NATURALLY… LIKE SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED STARCHES, FLAVORINGS, OR COLOR ADDITIVES. 

MANY ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS ALSO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF SUGAR, SODIUM, OR FAT – ALL OF WHICH HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT YOUR HEALTH. 

SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS ARE THINGS LIKE SODAS, FLAVORED YOGURTS, INSTANT SOUPS AND MOST BREAKFAST CEREALS. 

A DIFFERENT STUDY PUBLISHED 20-23 FOUND THEY MAKE UP A HUGE PART OF THE AMERICAN DIET – ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 58 PERCENT OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS’ CALORIE INTAKE.

THESE FOODS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE HEART DISEASE, TYPE 2 DIABETES, OBESITY, AND SOME TYPES OF CANCER. 

AND IN RECENT YEARS – *SEVERAL* STUDIES HAVE LINKED ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS TO COGNITIVE DECLINE AS WELL… NOT JUST THIS NEW STUDY. 

HOWEVER – RESEARCHERS SAY WHILE THESE STUDIES SHOW A LINK… THEY DO *NOT* PROVE THE FOODS DIRECTLY HARM YOUR BRAIN – AND NOT ALL THE STUDIES HAVE FOUND A CONSISTENT LINK. 

AND – EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY *HOW* ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS WOULD IMPACT THE BRAIN.

STILL… THEY SAY CUTTING DOWN YOUR INTAKE OF THESE FOODS IS NEVER A BAD IDEA.